Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-02-03

PoRT DEPOSIT, Nd, Jan. 30.-The rain
that fell here and up the river on Satur-
day and the warm weather since has
weakened the ice, and nothing is needed
but enough water to carry it over the flats
above CARROTS Island to insure relief to
the threatened town of Port Deposit.
The danger that now exists is that the
gorges at McCall's Ferry will give away
and heavy volume of ice and water
come down suddenly on the ice packed
in front of the town. This event might
be hastened by the hundreds of small
streams up the Susquehanna pouring
their waters into those of the river.
Should it come from above before the
gorge breaks here the larger part of Port
Deposit will be again under water and the
floating ice carried on a swift current
might do great damage.
The gorge has now lasted five days, tho
longest known in the history of the
blockades on this river. The water rose
about six inches here during the day, but
began receding-at night. News from up
the river shows very little change. At
Star Rock, Pa, about 10 miles south of
Columbia, the ice moved and covered the
track of the Columbia q Port Deposit
railroad this afternoon with ice and water
from to 10 feet deep for the distance of
about a mile. The tracks of this road
are now covered for four miles, between
Creswell and Star Rock, with ice and
water, besides those parts under water
to 10 feet deep and ice 10 to is feet thick
along tine water front of Port Deposit.
Hundreds of visitors from Baltimore,
Wilmington, Elkton and Havre de Grace
and from the surrounding country incurred
into town to-day. They had to walk from
Perryville, over four miles, no trains
being run. As nobody in town had any
thing else to do but walk around, the
streets were full of people. There were
no church services. The Catholic, the
Presbyterian and the Methodist churches,
located in the upper end of town, are
only approachable by boats, and while
the Episcopal church, in the lower end.
and the colored church, ON an elevation
up the county road, are out of water, the
people who attend them were unable to
leave nome on account of the uncertainty
that hangs ever everything. It was
therefore Sunday only in the sense that
everybody was taking holiday except
the ferrymen who carried people
up and down the street where it is still
flooded and made many dollars at
it. Where the waters still linger and the
boats were in use the scene was somewhat
Venetian. Boat loads of people passing
up and down the flooded districts ex-
changed greetings with their friends who
were in the fronts of their houses, while
the ladies leaned over the porches and
watched the proceedings and the people
who were taking part in them with evil
dent interest. The gondolas were fiat
bottomed, and the gondoliers too heavily
taxed sometimes, as the current was very
strong; so that when boat bumped
against doorstep or a half submerged
lamp post, and nearly turned over or
partly filed, the sight.seers got duck.
ing and those in safe places had good
laugh.
PoRT DEPOSIT, Mn, Jan. 3I.-There is
some little change for the better in the
condition of affairs at Port Deposit to-
night. The water has reeeded from 10 to
12inches in Main street, leaving the water
two or three feet deep Row boats continue
very serviceRble as means of trans
portation. Should the water recede to-
morrow as rapidly as it has to-day it will
be possible to travel the entire street in
gum boots. The mild weather caused a
slight movement in the Ice at Rock Run
this morning, which caused rise of
about one foot. Reports from up the
river tonight denote general fall in the
water and no movement in the Ice. No
further danger is apprehended for the
present.